Village Under Threat

Sunday, 22 January 2012 20:42

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Updates from the Public meeting on the 18th Jan, and details of the issues and challenges to TDC's proposals for the Core Strategy, and how you can help save our village.

 

**Village Under Threat**

Abbotskerswell Public Meeting Update

18th January 2012

Teignbridge Core Strategy Plan

The Parish Council were delighted to see over 200 villagers attending the public meeting on the 18th January to discuss the Core strategy plan for Teignbridge. At the meeting chaired by Kevin Eales, presentations were received from:

Philip Vogel - Teignbridge District Council, Neil Blaney - Teignbridge District Council, Darren Summerfield - Teignbridge District Council, Kelvin Shantry - District Councillor, David Boxall - Chartered Engineer (retired)

TDC reported that their original strategic plan has been dismissed by the inspectorate. This has led to the production of a new 20 year development plan,including a development area known as the Southern Option, south of Decoy Park and Newton Abbot.

Key Issues with the proposed plan:

 

  • 15,000 new homes to be built in the Teignbridge area, What is the true number needed?
  • 1,800 homes impacting Abbotskerswell and Wolborough, Development will be very close by.
  • Beautiful Countryside will be built on, destroying this green space forever.
  • New Road links needed to support the proposed development, increasing pollution in the local area.

 

TDC advise no planned coalesence with Abbotskerswell

The new development will have a 'buffer' of only 100 metres from the parish of Abbotskerswell at the Priory. Elsewhere there is incursion into our Parish. Abbotskerswell is a doomesday settlement, we do not want to lose our unique identity and become merged with Newton Abbot.

TDC advise the number of homes required is sourced from an external consultant, and their plans are based on these findings.

The figures used were a five year average including the year there was a huge inward migration to service the relocation of the Met Office to Exeter in 2007. As this was a one off event, the 20 year average should be used, which shows a lower number of homes needed.

Net Migration peaked in 2007 in a buoyant economic environment. This is where TDC housing figures were derived from.

Since that date, net migration was decreased by approximately 40% reducing the need for additional housing.

TDC report that the cost of the link road between Aller and Ogwell Cross at the Totnes Road will cost £11m to complete.

A chartered Engineer estimates that given the topography of the land, build costs will be at least double -  WHERE WILL THESE COSTS BE FUNDED FROM? The new road will exacerbate pollution in the local area.

The new road links in the Teignbridge plan are shown as 5.5 metres wide, a 'Devon Lane".

The TDC proposals also show a possible bus lane - that would require a road of 20 metres wide!

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Please write into the Spatial planning and delivery team at Teignbridge District Council with your views on these proposals.

The address to write to is : Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4XX

Individual response count, so please write in as individuals, not households!

More info is available online at WWW.teignbridge.gov.uk/planteignbridge

The closing date for written responses is the 2nd March 2012 at 4.30pm

Have your say, there will not be a second chance for another 20 years! SAVE OUR VILLAGE